Top 10 Most Powerful Sith Lords from Star Wars
The Sith Lords of Star Wars are some of the most iconic and feared characters in the entire galaxy. Their mastery of the dark side, ruthless ambition, and unforgettable battles with the Jedi make them endlessly fascinating to fans. From ancient Sith legends to the more well-known figures like Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine, the Sith have always wielded immense power and shaped the fate of the galaxy.Each Sith brings something different to the table, and your vote will help highlight those that truly left their dark legacy on the galaxy. Will the ancient Sith sorcerers from the days of old outshine the newer, more recognizable names from the movies? Or do you think the modern villains take the crown?

Darth Sidious brought the Jedi Order to the brink of extinction. He was arguably the most powerful Force user of Darth Bane's Rule of Two, excluding Bane himself. He brought the Sith out of hiding and formed the Galactic Empire, a Sith-controlled puppet state. He accomplished all of this with minimal effort, having his apprentices do all the dirty work for him. When engaged in combat, he was overwhelming, except during the fight with Mace Windu, where he showed vulnerability to sway Anakin to his side.
He is the most intelligent Sith Lord, bar none. The only Sith lord in his class is Darth Bane. You could say Sidious is Bane's creation through his Rule of Two. Darth Sidious is the culmination of a thousand years of Sith philosophy and teachings.

The Jedi turned Sith, then neutral. This man, no, this God of Destruction, was defeated only through the cowardly betrayal of a Sith named Scourge, a coward out only to save his own life. He brought the Emperor to his knees before betrayal destroyed him. He was all-consuming, calling upon the Light, as well as the Dark, in a way of Gray. He fed his power of the Dark Side with the emotions of the Light Side - compassion, loyalty, and love - so as to create power never before used or known.
Unlike the Emperor, who stole his power and immortality from a world and thus had power that was not truly his, Revan CREATED his power from himself. He himself was powerful enough to destroy the power of the world forced into one man, only to be brought down by a traitor.
Revan influenced Bane, who is also incredibly powerful, in the Rule of Two. Revan was the Savior and the Scourge of the galaxy. The galaxy is saved or destroyed by his whim.

Vitiate killed his father with just a thought and then slowly tortured his mother through the Force. His eyes were pure black! He absorbed a planet's energy and thereby made himself immortal. He basically destroyed a planet just with his powers of the Force.
He also imprisoned not only 12 of the most powerful Sith Lords of their time in their minds, but he did it all at the same time. Meanwhile, he imprisoned two of the most powerful Jedi just by thinking (Revan and Malak). He can take the body of others and use them for himself.
Also, when he decided that he was bored with controlling the two most powerful Jedi ever, he just killed them both with one Force blast. He took over the galaxy and ruled it for over 5,000 years. If you're thinking of voting for Revan, then think again because Vitiate killed him with only one powerful Force blast, in which he wasn't even making an effort. He killed Malak too, so don't vote for him either.
So, to recap, don't just vote for people who you know, as they probably aren't the most powerful. For example, Palpatine, Vader. And if you want to think about true POWER, then you have to think WAY back and not just at the films you've seen. Thanks for reading, guys, and remember... VOTE VITIATE!

Bane was far more influential in the grand scheme of things than many of the other Sith mentioned. He was never a Jedi either, which should put him ahead in terms of purity. While some may have been stronger with the Force, better with a lightsaber, or smarter/more cunning, no one was stronger with all of these characteristics combined.
He could, therefore, use other aspects of his power against those who were stronger in one aspect. He completely revolutionized the Sith (albeit with Revan's ideologies), and (SPOILERS!) he may not have actually died at the hands of his apprentice as many believe he did.

The thing with Darth Nihilus, by comparison to other Sith Lords, is that he's a Force vampire. They devour the Force, and with each foe defeated and each power used against him, he became stronger. No matter who he faced, he would always be destined to win. The only reason he was ever able to be defeated was because Visas had a Force bond and Meetra is another Force vampire, although much less skilled at absorbing the Force. Even Darth Vitiate should fear one such as he, since Vitiate's incredible power with the Force becomes basically useless any time they're even thinking about one another.
The fact that a powerful Force vampire like him was even able to be defeated was purely a matter of circumstance and knowing manipulation from Kreia, and were he to live much longer, the entire galaxy would've been at his fingertips should he wish it.

First of all, if they aren't canon, then they're out. That currently leaves 6 in the running: Bane, Plagueis, Sidious, Maul, Tyranus, and Vader. Now reorder them by importance to the plot, and you'll find that Vader lands preeminent. Vader is arguably the most recognizable villain in cinema, let alone from this franchise, contributing to its early success while the Emperor wasn't even a main character until Return of the Jedi.
Now imagine a hypothetical situation where each of the canonical Sith broke the bounds of time to be pitted against one another. You can bet your bottom dollar that George Lucas would have Vader as the last man standing, and that's how I came to my conclusion.

Did you ever hear the Tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise? I thought not. It's not a story the Jedi would tell you. It's a Sith legend. Darth Plagueis was a Dark Lord of the Sith, so powerful and so wise he could use the Force to influence the midichlorians to create life.
He had such a knowledge of the dark side that he could even keep the ones he cared about from dying. The dark side of the Force is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be unnatural. He became so powerful... the only thing he was afraid of was losing his power, which eventually, of course, he did.
Unfortunately, he taught his apprentice everything he knew, then his apprentice killed him in his sleep. It's ironic he could save others from death, but not himself.

He is portrayed as a highly powerful and ambitious Sith Lord who lived around 5,000 years before the events of the original Star Wars trilogy. Exar Kun was known for his mastery of the dark side of the Force and his thirst for power. In terms of his power level, Exar Kun was considered one of the most formidable Sith Lords of his time.
He possessed exceptional skill in lightsaber combat and was highly proficient in various Force techniques, including telekinesis, Sith sorcery, and Force lightning. He also delved deeply into forbidden knowledge and ancient Sith teachings, further enhancing his abilities.

He was equal to training programs that perfectly imitate Sidious, Obi-Wan, and Yoda's combat abilities during his training. Galen was able to bring down a Star Destroyer through his unbelievable potency with the mystical power. Vader and Sidious themselves openly considered him to be at least their equal in the Force.
Even though in the latter stages of his career, Galen opposed the Empire, he was extremely proficient in the use of Force Lightning. Marek's story is the tale of the first sparks of hope for the galaxy's future being born. His struggles, skills, the tests he passed, the pain he suffered at the hands of Sidious and Vader, and finally, his death is what created the faction, which later helped Luke, Obi-Wan, and Yoda to destroy the Empire.

Darth Traya was by far the most intelligent and insightful Sith Lord in all of history. I can see how Revan and Vader top the list, but you have to give credit to Traya. She was so insightful of the Force and the future that she went blind from it.
By far, Traya, although maybe not the most powerful Sith Lord, was the most intelligent Sith Lord with a powerful insight into the Force that no other Sith Lord could possibly compare to.
And she foresaw Boba Fett's death by the hands of Mace Windu, 4,000 years into the future! Come on! You know that is legitimate if you can see that far.
The Newcomers
If Rey became Empress Rey, she would make a whole new empire, and she, along with Kylo Ren, would control and rule the galaxy.
But it might not work well. If we're talking about legends, Darth Caedus rules and controls the galaxy, slaying many people. Rey and Kylo would have to try to take him down or capture him.
Kylo would also use Rey for his gain and toy with her. Then, the two would try to kill Palpatine, and after his death, they would most likely have a baby and teach it the ways of the dark side.
Empress Rey would unleash the Final Order on the rest of the galaxy, rebuild the Empire more powerful than ever before, and spread her armies to the outer reaches of the galaxy.
Eventually, she'd have a child or an apprentice and repeat the process, goading her daughter or son to kill her and take her place.

He was a brilliant Sith. When Starkiller Base was destroyed, he remained calm and carried on, assuring them (and himself) they would continue and come up with an alternative.
Plus, he seems strong in the Force, intelligent, and authoritative.

Darth Maul is the most epic character that first came to Star Wars. As well as looking really cool, he is one of the best duelists in the galaxy. Sadly, he was defeated very early on by Obi-Wan Kenobi. But he somehow survived his injury and started to become a powerful Sith Lord. He took over Mandalore with a group known as Death Watch, which is now his personal army.
He also trained an apprentice known as Savage Opress, who took on Darth Tyranus and Asajj Ventress at the same time. Darth Maul actually escaped Darth Sidious when captured and lived on to the age of the Empire where he killed the Inquisitors and still lives on. No one knows what happened to him, but you have to admit Darth Maul deserves some credit for surviving that long.

Dooku was one of the most powerful Jedi before he left the Order and learned more about the Dark Side of the Force, becoming even more powerful. He could battle powerful Jedi like Obi-Wan and Anakin by himself regularly and was able to hold them off without breaking a sweat. He only lost to Anakin because he was ordered to by his master.
On top of that, he was very wise, and even Sidious was wary that if he wasn't kept in check, he could, with the help of his apprentice, overthrow him, which is up to speculation. Either way, Dooku was very powerful as both Sith and Jedi and should be ranked higher up as well.

One of Darth Malgus's most notable feats was leading the Sith assault on Alderaan during the Great Galactic War. Despite facing strong resistance from the Republic and the Jedi, Malgus orchestrated a devastating attack that resulted in the capture and occupation of Alderaan, a significant blow to the Republic.
Malgus played a crucial role in the Sacking of Coruscant, a major event during the Great Galactic War where the Sith Empire launched a surprise attack on the Republic's capital. Malgus led the ground assault, infiltrating the Jedi Temple and causing widespread destruction, symbolizing the Empire's resurgence and striking fear into the heart of the Republic.
In addition to his military prowess, Malgus also wielded significant political influence within the Sith Empire. He played a role in shaping Imperial policies and decision-making, often advocating for aggressive expansion and the eradication of the Republic and the Jedi.

Sion is an extremely powerful Sith Lord who can use the dark side to maintain his body and keep himself alive. If he is killed, Sion draws on his rage and pain to revive himself. He can gain even more power by feeding on the dark side energies of places where it is particularly present.
Indeed, Sion only died because he allowed himself to die. You cannot say anything similar about any other Sith Lord. No matter how many people you kill, lives you create, or planets you dominate, if you are mortal and thus killed by another, you are a lesser Sith Lord than Darth Sion.

He has a scepter called the Scepter of Ragnos, which has the power to infuse a dead body so the person can go back to life. This means Marka Ragnos is the second known Sith Lord in the history of the galaxy who can bring people back from death.
The only ancient Sith who didn't cause their own destruction, but led them to a golden age of strength and glory.
He was the most powerful of the most powerful of the Sith in the ancient Sith Empire. He was able to survive 5000 years as a spirit and nearly return in Jedi Academy. The corruption of his weakened spirit was strong enough to kill Tavion Axmis.

Born as A'Sharad Hett, a Jedi Knight during the Clone Wars and a survivor of Order 66, he later fell to the dark side and reemerged as Darth Krayt. His power was immense not only because of his Force abilities but also because of his philosophical evolution of the Sith Order and his deep connection to the dark side through pain and survival.
Krayt's Force powers were formidable even by the standards of the most elite Force users. As a former Jedi Master and a Tusken-raised warrior, he had a strong foundation in both lightsaber combat and traditional Force abilities. After his fall, he gained even more power through suffering, especially after being captured and experimented on by the Yuuzhan Vong. His body was infected with Vong implants that constantly tortured him, but he learned to survive by embracing the pain, turning it into a source of strength. His resilience and ability to manipulate life and death allowed him to extend his life for over a century, making him more of a dark side embodiment than just a Sith warrior.
What truly set Krayt apart was his ideological ambition. He sought to reform the Rule of Two into the "One Sith" philosophy, demanding total loyalty and unity under his rule instead of endless scheming among apprentices. He ruled the galaxy as Emperor after overthrowing the Fel Empire and demonstrated mastery over Sith alchemy and dark healing, reviving himself after apparent death. His command of Force lightning, telekinesis, and battle precognition was top-tier, but his greatest weapon was his ability to endure, dominate, and reshape the Sith in his image.
Krayt even returned from death after being betrayed and killed. He was reborn more powerful than before through sheer hatred and mastery of the dark side. In his final form, he became strong enough to defeat Darth Wyyrlok, command legions of Sith, and rival Cade Skywalker, who possessed powerful Skywalker lineage. Although ultimately defeated, Krayt represented the... more

I mean, come on, he was an extremely powerful Sith sorcerer. He had his own living meditation sphere controlled by thought, could reshape and reassemble itself to create whatever he needed, and focused Force energy to make him more powerful.
He could even manipulate and destroy stars and solar activity! Plus, he's a pureblood Sith. What more can you ask?
I say Revan. He is very powerful and was actually thought to be the chosen one. Revan bested anyone he had ever faced and managed to become twice as powerful when he had been the Dark Lord. He even would have killed the Sith Emperor if he had not been distracted.

Darth Malak is by far one of the most ambitious Sith Lords, having lived in the shadow of Darth Revan for a long time. When he saw the opportunity to advance his station, he didn't hesitate to take it, even if that meant betraying his long-time accomplice. Regardless of their history, Malak was out for vengeance against Revan after Revan sliced off his jaw with his lightsaber.
It could be argued that without the help of Malak, Revan would not have been able to accomplish as much as they did. He played an essential role in locating and activating the Star Forge. His constitution and sense of determination are even a close match to Revan's. Malak's ruthless efficiency is also notable, as he significantly boosted the Star Forge's productivity before its destruction.
However, Malak's feats are challenging to consider without comparison to Revan's, proving that, even as powerful as he was, he will forever be overshadowed by his former master.

Kylo Ren's skill is way underrated. Though I agree he does not deserve a top 10 spot yet, and would've lost to the likes of Maul or Vader, he still deserves mention. First, the fact that he was even dueling Rey with the extreme injury that still affects him in Episode 8 simply shows that he is a very tough combatant.
Also, along with these injuries that he sustained, both Rey and Finn were very skilled in physical combat. I will admit that while he is a skilled duelist, his Force abilities far outshine his dueling abilities. Freezing bolts flying with extreme force, an ability we have never seen. He was also able to use Sith mind control on unwilling and strong-willed opponents, very nearly extracting the information from Rey. All of these feats show he is powerful, yet I still don't believe he deserves a top 10 spot yet. But, he has only been training for six years, so we shall definitely see his full power and skill in the future.
Conquered a planet with a blaster and a short-saber. Relative unknown, but generally speculated to be a peer to greats like Exar Kun and Naga Sadow. Personally, because of the lack of supporting evidence and the magnitude of their feats, I'd put him a step below.
But then again, he was a direct disciple of Sadow himself, and was responsible for destroying his master's spirit utterly. So, you weigh that against his inability to completely subjugate the Beast Riders, and... Well, it's a tough call, to say the least.

Caedus's power in the Force was exceptional, even before his fall. He was a master duelist, a skilled pilot, and possessed a wide variety of Force abilities including telekinesis, precognition, and Force lightning. However, his true strength came from his ability to manipulate and control. Jacen had a unique sensitivity to the emotions and thoughts of others, which he used to read minds, predict outcomes, and influence entire battles before they happened. He even mastered a rare ability called Flow-walking, which allowed him to peer into the past and future. His knowledge of obscure Force techniques from across the galaxy made him a unique and formidable Force user who operated outside the bounds of traditional Jedi or Sith doctrine.
After enduring intense torture during the Yuuzhan Vong War and studying Force philosophies from many cultures, Jacen began to believe that only by embracing the dark side could he bring lasting peace to the galaxy. Under the tutelage of Lumiya, a Sith Lady, he was convinced that sacrificing his own morality and even the people he loved was necessary for galactic stability. His turn to the dark side was gradual and ideological, driven more by a sense of duty than hatred or ambition, making his fall especially chilling. He willingly murdered his aunt Mara Jade Skywalker and even considered sacrificing his own daughter to cement his transformation into Darth Caedus.
As a Sith Lord, Caedus combined the compassion of a former hero with the cold logic of a tyrant. He became Grand Admiral of the Galactic Alliance military and orchestrated devastating campaigns, using psychological warfare, fear, and incredible tactical insight. Few could match him in combat. Even Luke Skywalker failed to kill Caedus after an emotionally charged battle that cost Mara her life. Ultimately, it was Jaina Solo, his twin sister and one of the few who could match his power and outthink him, who brought him down.

What was that quote? The one in KOTOR 2 where the character says that the Sith of that time (Kreia, Sion, Nihilus) were merely children playing with toys compared to the ancient Lords? So, the Lord of Hunger and the Lord of Pain are considered children flaunting their toys when compared to the ancient Lords of the Sith. Tulak Hord was also Vitiate's master.
Vitiate used his own dreashade against his master and killed him. With his power intact, not even Vitiate challenged this guy, so he got his dreashade to consume Tulak's life force so that Vitiate even had a chance of killing Tulak Hord. This is all just a glimpse into what kind of Sith Tulak Hord was.

Savage Opress slew several Jedi on the planet that Darth Tyranus sent him to, as if it were a piece of cake. I think he deserves a whole birthday cake.
The only reason he died was because Darth Sidious killed him, and that's not fair because he would have become very powerful, maybe ten times as powerful as Darth Maul. He was so strong with the Force - if you recall, he was the one who killed Adi Gallia, not Darth Maul. His Force skills were unbelievable.
Not the most powerful Sith, but he held his own. If Darth Sidious had not killed him, I believe he would have become more powerful in the Force. Darth Maul had more training than he did.
Savage Opress killed at least three Jedi during the Clone Wars.

He was a Sith sorcerer and was able to resurrect the dead for an army. Plus, he removed his heart and replaced it with a Sith Crystal. Not to mention he was a Sith King.

The Inquisitor practiced the powers of the dark side and was trained in the use of a lightsaber. He wielded a rotary lightsaber, which he also used as a one-handed lightsaber, activating only one blade.
In addition to swordsmanship, he used the sword's spin to break his opponent's concentration and end the fight with minimal effort.
The Grand Inquisitor had been a temple guard before the fall of the Republic and had extensive knowledge of the archives. This made him a very skilled and intelligent opponent. The Grand Inquisitor allowed himself to die when he failed to capture Kanan Jarrus and Ezra Bridger, knowing his punishment would be severe.